Mendis has had time to rest his fingers. Might become his old self again and rip through the batting line-up.

I'd doubt that.

Murali will be rusty. Actually it will do him a world of good if he plays the practice match.

SL batting lineup had been very good over last few matches, but I see a glaring few faults in the line up. A lineup of Dilshan, Paranavithana, Sangakkara, M. Jayawardane, Samaraweera, Mathws and P. Jayawardane id thin in playing spin. Paranavithana, Sanga and Mathews are not known to do well against spinners, unlike many SC players. These guys prefer pacier bouncier tracks. The sublime ability of P. Jayawardane to play spin, may keep Kaushal Silva out of the side, who is a much better batsman than P. Jayawardane. Replacing Mathews with Kandamby will give Indian bowling bigger headaches, because he is a very good player of spin, but then SL will miss Mathews' useful fast-medium stuff (and ability to reverse swing the ball)

As far as bowling goes, SL might go with two seamers, two spinners and Mathews. Although Kulasekara had done well recently, Prasad and Thushara are my picks, because they have pace to make batsman hop around, and the former can bowl beautifully with the old ball.

The batsmen to watch are Mahela, Samaraweera and Dilshan. P. Jayawardane may also pull out a rabbit out of the hat. Sanga, Mathews and Paranavithana will have it tough. They'll be tested on this tour.

My concern with this side would be the lack of depth in the batting department. Probably at this stage of his career Mathews may possibly be a place too high, so too Prasanna Jayawardene. However, we all know the vast amount of runs the middle order has in them, and should they fire, then there would be no reason why the previously mentioned players cannot do a job at 6 and 7, and bat without any great pressure and build on the platform laid by Sanga, Mahela, and Samaraweera. The advantage is obviously Mathews' very handy medium pacers and the fact that they can field a five man attack.

I think it is a very tough call, while I would like to see more depth in the batting, can they afford to go into it with only a four-man attack ?

I also believe Prasanna has to keep wicket, he looks easily the best gloveman on the world circuit at the moment, and it would be nice to know that a specialist wicket-keeper is not a total dying breed.

My concern with this side would be the lack of depth in the batting department. Probably at this stage of his career Mathews may possibly be a place too high, so too Prasanna Jayawardene. However, we all know the vast amount of runs the middle order has in them, and should they fire, then there would be no reason why the previously mentioned players cannot do a job at 6 and 7, and bat without any great pressure and build on the platform laid by Sanga, Mahela, and Samaraweera. The advantage is obviously Mathews' very handy medium pacers and the fact that they can field a five man attack.

The question of Mathews is an interesting one. He has shown weakness against spin, so my concern is whether to play him at all. On quick wickets like Wanderers or Perth Mathews is SL's second best batsman. P. Jayawardane always had been very good against spin. Very much like a old time Indian wicket keeper (rather than a SL one) Brilliant with gloves, sublime against spin but sucks against pace.

I think it is a very tough call, while I would like to see more depth in the batting, can they afford to go into it with only a four-man attack ?

It would have been possible if Malinga and Murali were 100% match fit. Malinga, Thushara, Prasad and Murali would have been the four prong attack. Warnapura loosing his form was a big worry. He's quite bit better than a part timer with his spin.

I also believe Prasanna has to keep wicket, he looks easily the best gloveman on the world circuit at the moment, and it would be nice to know that a specialist wicket-keeper is not a total dying breed

I think his days are numbered though, unless he starts to make some runs. The preliminary reason to retain him is presence of Murali. New keeper like Kaushal Silva would struggle big time to keep Murali. But ones Murali retires, we may see Kaushal Silva stepping in. He has the ability to average 35-40 with the bat easily.

I also believe Prasanna has to keep wicket, he looks easily the best gloveman on the world circuit at the moment, and it would be nice to know that a specialist wicket-keeper is not a total dying breed.

Hmmm i have heard this comment made alot of Prasanna but given the i've seen of him i'm not so sure. Would still have to give the best glovesman tag to Boucher.

The preliminary reason to retain him is presence of Murali. New keeper like Kaushal Silva would struggle big time to keep Murali. But ones Murali retires, we may see Kaushal Silva stepping in. He has the ability to average 35-40 with the bat easily.

You mention how Kaushal Silva would struggle keeping wicket to Murali, which I agree with, but how do you think he'll handle Mendis, who will most likely be Sri Lanka's first choice spinner for the next 5-10 years? Obviously he doesn't rip it as much as Murali, but would still be a tough ask reading his bowling from behind the stumps.

Hmmm i have heard this comment made alot of Prasanna but given the i've seen of him i'm not so sure. Would still have to give the best glovesman tag to Boucher.

Only because Boucher has all those years of experience behind him, while P. Jayawardene is still a fairly young man. Personally I feel Boucher would struggle to keep wicket to Muralitharan to the standard that his Sri Lankan counter-part does.

Only because Boucher has all those years of experience behind him, while P. Jayawardene is still a fairly young man. Personally I feel Boucher would struggle to keep wicket to Muralitharan to the standard that his Sri Lankan counter-part does.

And actually he struggled in the super test. Murali sent few overs where Katich and Gilchrist in front of the wicket were clueless what was coming at them, and Boucher knew even less,as he grassed two catches and missed a stumping off Murali within ten overs.

You mention how Kaushal Silva would struggle keeping wicket to Murali, which I agree with, but how do you think he'll handle Mendis, who will most likely be Sri Lanka's first choice spinner for the next 5-10 years? Obviously he doesn't rip it as much as Murali, but would still be a tough ask reading his bowling from behind the stumps.

As a spinner what I know is keepers hate when spinners rip it a mile. They hate it more when the spinner turns it both ways. A keeper with a sharp eye and quick hands can manage a bowler like Mendis, because the "turn range" of his deliveries are lesser, and foot work is a needed minimally. But against Murali, if your foot work sucks, you have no hope keeping him.

I like the look of the Lankan ODI lower order. Their top six is flimsy, but the bottom five can accumulate enough to save their team, annoy the bowling or even change a game. They already have Thushara, Kulasekara, Matthews (spin weakness notwithstanding). The composition of their ODI team, unlike India's, is a good one, and a lot will depend on their oft-misfiring top six. While Sanath and Dilshan get the bulk of the runs quickly, more is expected from five and six, and a little less from Sanga and Mahela. The surprise selection, however, is of Dilhara Fernando coming again. He's been the most accomplished bowler, but that's primarily because he's got a lot more matches, and there are repeated complaints about his inaccuracy, overstepping and old-ball issues. He's been their quick-fix pacer, a lot like India's Agarkar.

Their Test team, however, isn't in the best of shape. Their top order is an area of weakness, and a lot will depend on the big three of the middle-order. Murali and Mendis are a genuine threat together, or even individually, but proper negotiation of the pace bowlers will help the Indians a lot against them. They're almost level with their Indian counterparts on most fronts, but marginally behind the Indians in pace and a much weaker opening combination. It's a little difficult to comment on T20, given how few T20 matches are played, but they're again a well-balanced, versatile unit.

"Talent is nothing without opportunity"
"You're not remembered for aiming at the target, but hitting it"

Kamdamby should bat 6. You will need runs to survive in India, and SL will play 2 spinners. THere's a hardly a need for a 5th bowler unless he's an attacking/penetrating bowler. Mathews will keep the runs down but won't threaten the Indian batsmen.

Also, I'd like to see Herath given a run. I don't think Mendis will succeed in India this tour (in the tests).